William D. DeFoor, 26, appeared in separate state and federal courtrooms in Cincinnati on Tuesday, facing charges that he broke the windows of Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio home with a hammer during a late-night breach that Secret Service agents captured and interrupted before he could flee. Vance and his family were not home at the time.
The case spans two jurisdictions: state charges in Hamilton County for vandalism and trespassing, and federal charges that carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison. DeFoor’s defense attorney said his client had no political motivation, and the family described a prolonged struggle with mental illness.
The incident
Secret Service agents detained DeFoor early Monday after surveillance showed him running along the front fence of Vance’s residence in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood around midnight, according to an affidavit filed in federal court. DeFoor allegedly tried to break the window of an unmarked Secret Service vehicle on the driveway before moving to the front of the home and breaking its glass windows.
Fourteen historic window panes were broken in the attack. Damage to security enhancements around the windows was valued at $28,000, according to the affidavit.
Vance said in a Tuesday interview on “The Scott Jennings Show” that his family had departed a few hours before the attack. He said the person “hammered the windows but eventually realized they weren’t getting anywhere, ran off, and were captured by the Secret Service as they tried to escape.”
State charges
A Hamilton County judge set bonds totaling $11,000 on state charges of vandalism, criminal trespass, criminal damaging, and obstruction of official business. Court records indicate DeFoor was previously found incompetent to face trial on a 2023 criminal trespassing charge and was referred for treatment following a 2024 vandalism charge. A grand jury hearing in the state case was scheduled for January 15.
Federal charges
The U.S. Attorney’s office for Ohio’s Southern District brought three federal charges: damaging government property, engaging in physical violence against property in a restricted area, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers. The first two charges each carry potential sentences of up to 10 years in prison; the third carries up to 20 years.
A federal bond hearing was set for Friday in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.
Defense and family statements
Defense attorney Paul Laufman told the Hamilton County court that his client was not motivated by politics, calling the alleged conduct “purely a mental health issue.”
Outside the federal courthouse, standing alongside her husband, Catherine DeFoor read a statement saying “mental illness is a terrible thing” and that the family’s lives “are full of stress and sadness and grief.” She offered prayers for the Vances and their children and described her child as a straight-A student who had been awarded a full scholarship to study music.
Vance said he would let the investigation proceed before commenting on the suspect’s possible motive, but called the person “clearly a very sick individual.” “There are crazy people out there and we’re thankful for the Secret Service and the grace of God that we’re still here to do the job that we can,” he said.